Endangered North Atlantic right whales are making a slow comeback 

North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacial) is one of the most endangered large whales. Their very name indicates their devastating decline: they were “correct” whales for whalers to target as the animals swam after being killed.

Today is their biggest threats Vessel collisions and entanglement in fishing gear. However, this time there is good news from the marine conservation community. The New England Aquarium estimates that whale populations in the North Atlantic are slowly increasing. statement.

Researchers from the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium, the New England Aquarium and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimated that there were about 384 whales in 2024, a 2.1 percent increase from the previous year.

Looking to 2025, there have been 11 calf births, zero deaths and significantly fewer serious entanglements and vessel collisions so far, says Heather Pettis, senior scientist at the New England Aquarium. Popular Science.

“Population growth is really good news, and what we see in 2025 is good news,” Pettis explains. However, “we're talking about a population of 384 animals – that's still incredibly small. Yes, we're seeing growth. They're small, and we're still seeing animal injuries from human activity. And so, you know, I say we're cautious and optimistic.”

Pettis adds that we cannot weaken our commitment to conservation and that we need both regulatory processes and efforts beyond regulatory processes, such as creative industry solutions and increased public awareness. In Massachusetts, for example, Cape Cod's mitigation efforts include fishing restrictions when whales are known to be in the area.

Pettis also describes a new technology in the fishing industry, currently being tested in the US and Canada, that aims to avoid entangling whales in ropes connecting traps on the seafloor to buoys on the surface of the water. Simply put, this technology keeps the line out of the water until fishermen need to raise their gear again.

“Removing these vertical ropes from the water is a huge conservation benefit for right whales,” explains Pettis. Regarding collisions, many people are working on how to “communicate with mariners and let them know you are entering an area where the whales would benefit from slowing down.”

Another approach that goes beyond regulation concerns the vision of right whales. A study Data on humpback whales published earlier this year suggests their vision is worse than researchers expected and suggests they may not be able to see fishing gear until it is too late.

As for the whale species in question, “I'm not sure if the work has been published, but there are some thoughts about colors that whales might respond better to and see better, if you will, in the water column,” Pettis explains. “Are there ways we could change the color of the ropes? Could that help? So that's a long-standing question.”